Geography:The village is divided into 3 hamlets, the 1st and 2nd are located on both sides of a mountain stream; the 3rd hamlet is located at the top of the mountain. The houses there are closer together. It takes 1.5 hours to walk from the 1st hamlet to the 3rd hamlet. The villages are situated at 2,500 metres above sea level and winters are very cold.

Economy: The village has water and 2 phase power supply. Villagers must walk along a muddy footpath to a narrow track along the stream bed, to reach the main road leading to Xide Town a few kilometers away. The road is not accessible by vehicle during the rainy season from July to September. A health clinic and recreation centre were built in 2008. The project paved the courtyard of the health centre in 2014. Two health workers and a village doctor who is now in his 60s, serve the PALs. Medical supplies to the clinic are not adequate. The prefectural government has given a subsidy to each family, to renovate their houses upgrading them from mud to more durable materials. The project provided 10 sets of heating/cooking stoves and proper flues for 10 families. The funding came from the Hygiene and Sanitation program. We hope to show these houses to other villagers to encourage them to use these stoves and flues.

Infrastructure:There are 500 mu of arable land, but it slopes steeply and the soil is not fertile. Productivity is entirely dependent upon rainfall higher up in the mountains. There is a long dry winter season and this limits the variety of crops grown. Villagers grow maize, potatoes, cabbages and radishes. Small areas are planted with buckwheat. On the lower slopes there are apple and walnut trees. Villagers also raise pigs, goats and cattle for cash to supplement their food supply, but heir animal husbandry skills need to be improved. The staple crops are maize and potatoes. Occasionally they eat rice or even pork when there are guests or during special festivals. The per capita income is very low so younger villagers leave the village to work in cities. The embroidery co-operative was set up in 2006. After a slow start, it has substantially increased not only the women’s income, but also their social status. This year the Project started the first Micro Bank Project and gave grants of RMB40,000 for the purchase of 15 sows, to be repaid in due course.

Education:There is one school in the village that was last renovated in 2008. They have classes from grade 1 to 9. There are 90 students in the school, with 60 % male and 40% female.

Other Subsidies:Government payments to PALs are RMB33 to 120 monthly depending upon their disabilities. In addition they are granted 480 catties of rice p.a. PALs also receive RMB40 monthly from Casa Ricci Foundation in Macau SAR.

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